WABE 2025 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

1:45pm PDT

Amplifying Student Voices: Supporting Language, Culture, and Equity through Technology and Advocacy

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

Empowering student voice: This hands-on session explores raising awareness of indigenous languages and cultures, supporting multilingual learners, and leveraging technology to amplify diverse voices (through QR codes, screen recordings, creating websites). Learn practical strategies, share successes, and create your own tools to foster culturally responsive school environments.

Speakers

Beth Jimerson

Multilingual Learner Specialist, Burlington-Edison

Arie Werder

Middle school and High school CTE, Burlington-Edison School District

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience ML Specialists, Teachers
Academic Range K-12

1:45pm PDT

Characteristics of Successful Dual Language Bilingual Education Programming

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

This interactive session will provide an overview of DLBE programming essentials, as aligned with the Guiding Principles of Dual Language Education, 2018, in order to:
– Develop an understanding of the non-negotiable components of successful DLBE programs
– Understand the research behind effective DLBE programs
-- Engage in discussions around equity-systems and the support needed for program realization and sustainability.

Speakers

Loretta Booker

Project Coordinator, Dual Language Education of New Mexico

Loretta Booker has been a Project Coordinator with Dual Language Education of New Mexico, working with CLAVES® and Dual Language Bilingual Education (DLBE) Program Development since 2023. Before that time, she served within the Santa Fe Public School District for 18 years as a... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators, Coordinators, Instructional Coaches
Academic Range K-12

1:45pm PDT

MTSS and Multilingual Learners; A Systemic Approach to Equitable Support

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Do your school systems work to support the specific needs of multilingual learners? This session will focus on systemic practices and structures that address linguistic equity, build practitioner knowledge around multilingual learner needs, and integrate authentic assessment and progress monitoring within a multi-tiered system of support.

Speakers

Jennifer Johnson

Senior Consultant, Multilingual Learners, Education Northwest

Jennifer’s professional passion is in creating educational access and promoting authentic student identity and agency in education. Her career includes 23 years of experience serving in public education as a dual language teacher, bilingual instructional coach, building principal... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Administrators, District Administrators, Coaches
Academic Range K-12

1:45pm PDT

Sponsored Session - Fueling Linguistic Brilliance: GLAD Strategies to Ignite Multilingual Learners’ Voices

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

Evergreen E (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

In this interactive session, educators will explore powerful GLAD strategies that ignite multilingual learners’ linguistic brilliance and amplify their academic voice. Participants will engage in strategy demonstrations to see how structured supports foster language development. Through collaborative discussions and practical modeling, they will gain tools to create a classroom environment where all students confidently use and expand their linguistic power. Educators will leave with ready-to-use strategies and a renewed perspective on leveraging students' multilingual assets for academic success.

Speakers

Tabitha Aragon

Be GLAD Certified Agency Trainer, Be GLAD

Jennifer Chaves

Be GLAD Certified Agency Trainer, Be GLAD

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Evergreen E (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

3:00pm PDT

Developing an Action Plan for Serving Multilingual Learners Effectively

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Ignite your school to support multilingual learners effectively by developing an action plan! In this session, we will unpack Washington’s Multilingual Learner Statewide Strategic Plan and Toolkit to promote asset-based mindsets, strengthen instructional practices, provide support for educators, and engage multilingual students and families. Explore using WIDA ACCESS data, surveys, and reflection to build students’ success!

Speakers

Virginia Morales

Assistant Director - Multilingual Education, Washington Office Of Superintendent Of Public Instruction

Virginia Morales is the Assistant Director of Multilingual Education at OSPI. Virginia has over 20 years of experience working with multilingual learners as an educator in California, Wisconsin, and Washington. Previously, Virginia was a Professional Learning Specialist with WIDA... Read More →

Kristin Percy Calaff

WABE OSPI Ex-Officio Member, OSPI

Dr. Kristin Percy Calaff is the Executive Director of Multilingual & Migrant Education for the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. She has over 30 years of experience as a dual language teacher, principal, district administrator, adjunct professor, and state... Read More →

kadriye El-Atwani

Multilingual Program Supervisor-OSPI, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

English Learners for a Transformed World (2nd Edition): A Guide for Collaborative Professional Learning

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen F (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Our interactive, co-presented workshop offers the participants an opportunity to co-create pathways and tools that serve to ignite learners' linguistic power. Anchored to the new edition of the Collier & Thomas book, Educating English Learners for a Transformed World, we share applicable ways to grow collaboration practices in DLBE settings.

Speakers

Michael Rodriguez

Executive Director, Dual Language Education of New Mexico

Michael Rodríguez is the Executive Director of Dual Language Education of NM (DLeNM). For six years, he served as the organization's director of operations, heading up and expanding its Program Design and Leadership Development offerings while supporting schools, districts, and state... Read More →

Dr. Joan Lachance

UNC Charlotte

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen F (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Dual Language Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

Examining Key Language Uses in Bilingual Writing

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen A (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

In this session Strategies: Attendees will develop effective teaching strategies to support bilingual students in mastering writing skills in both languages.
Description: In this webinar, we will delve into the Key Language Uses in writing for both Spanish and English. Participants will engage in an in-depth analysis of bilingual writing examples and mentor texts, using the lens of the Key Language Uses and los usos clave del lenguaje del Marco DALE. This session aims to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to teach and support bilingual students in their writing endeavors effectively.

Speakers

Maya A. Martinez-Hart

Assistant Director of Standards, ELRP, WIDA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

I am a bilingual educator with a background in early childhood and K-12 education.

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen A (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Bilingual Educators
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

Intentional Mentoring: Shifting the culture of how multilingual teachers are trained, supported and valued

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

This session will explore strategies for comprehensive and intentional mentoring. Mentoring as collaboration amplifies the voices, experiences and linguistic superpowers of multilingual educators. This session will include hands on exploration of equity focused mentoring frameworks across all stages of professional growth to promote retention and healthy learning-based relationships.

Speakers

Richard Dunn

Partnership and Field Experiences Coordinator, Western Washington University, Renton

Richard Dunn, M.Ed., NBCT, teaches and is a Partnership and Field Experience Coordinator at the Western Washington University Woodring Multilingual Teaching Fellowship Program. He taught for 26 years in the Highline School District. He has supported early career teachers as a Peer... Read More →

Christie McLean

Woodring Bilingual Teaching Fellows Partnership and Field Experience Coordinator, Western Washington University

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Multilingual Teachers, Pre-service teachers, MLE Coaches, Administrators, Teacher Certification Providers
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

Special Education Pre-Referral Process for Multilingual Learners

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

In this session, we will engage in decolonizing practices rooted in the active interruption of systems that have been harmful to students. We will share our district's current work along with recommendations on a pre-referral process for multilingual learners. The session includes a recommended process, information to gather, and suggested training for pre-referral/MTSS teams.

Speakers

Kristie Gooding

ML Facilitator, Everett School District

Lindsay Leffelman

Multilingual Learner Coach, Everett Public Schools

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, MTSS Staff, Administrators, ML Program Staff
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

Sponsored Session - Right From the Start: Oracy, Writing, and Knowledge Building for Multilingual Learner Success

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Cedar Ballroom (2nd Floor, Olympic Tower)

This session explores the powerful connection between oracy, writing, and knowledge building in fostering the academic success of multilingual learners. Learn how to create classroom environments where students confidently articulate their ideas, engage in purposeful discussions, and transform their thoughts into well-structured writing.
Participants will leave equipped with practical approaches and plans to empower multilingual learners through cohesive and effective instruction.

Speakers

Amelia Larson

Chief Academic Officer, SUMMIT K-12

I currently serve as the Chief Academic Officer at Summit K-12. I am a dedicated educator with a reputation for promoting equitable outcomes and instigating transformative change within the K-12 education sector. Throughout my career, I have been unwavering in my commitment to translating... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom (2nd Floor, Olympic Tower)

3:00pm PDT

Sponsored Session - Unlocking Potential: Tailored Strategies for Newcomers and Long-Term English Learners

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Supporting both Newcomers and Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) requires targeted strategies that address their unique language and academic needs. This session will explore research-based approaches to accelerate language acquisition, build academic confidence, and foster meaningful engagement. Participants will gain practical tools for scaffolding instruction, leveraging students’ cultural and linguistic assets, and creating an inclusive, language-rich environment that promotes success for all English learners.

Speakers

Dr. Jeannette (Gina) Long

Academic Officer, Teacher Created Materials

Dr. Jeannette (Gina) Long has been in education for 29 years holding roles as teacher, school administrator, and district administrator. She is currently an Academic Officer for Teacher Created Materials. Drawing from her background as an English language learner and Multilingual... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

4:15pm PDT

How one school united to ignite students’ linguistic power: Every teacher a language teacher

Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT

Evergreen F (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Join a principal, program director, language specialist, and ESD consultant to see how one school shaped ELD services by supporting classroom teachers to confidently take the instructional lead for language development. Leave with insight and resources to design your ELD system, leaning on informed decisions, professional learning, and ongoing collaboration.

Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Cowgill

Director of Multilingual Learning, ESD 123

Janae’ Bell

Multilingual Specialist, Finley Elementary School

Pam Kinne

Elementary Principal, Finley School District

I'm completing my 16th year as a principal and 30th in education.I started my teaching career in Grandview School District. I taught 3 years at the high school and 11 years at the middle school. My principalship has all been in Finley School District at Finley Elementary.

Amy McLaughlin

Director of Special Programs, Finley School District - Kennewick, WA

Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
Evergreen F (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience District and School Leadership, EL Specialists, Teachers
Academic Range K-12

4:15pm PDT

Translanguaging in Action: Strategies for Biliteracy and Beyond

Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT

Regency E-G (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

In this engaging session, we’ll dive into the power of translanguaging as both a language practice and a pedagogy. Participants will explore its role in fostering biliteracy development through a framework that includes "Stance, Design, and Shift". You'll leave with practical strategies to enhance multilingual learners' ability to seamlessly navigate and thrive in both languages, empowering them to build on their linguistic strengths and achieve more profound, meaningful literacy. Whether new to translanguaging or looking to refine your approach, this session offers tools and insights to boost biliteracy and enrich classroom experiences.

Speakers

Yvonne Williams

Director of Multilingual Learner Educator Engagement, Wisconsin Center for Education Products and Services WCEPS

Yvonne Williams, Vice President of Educator Engagement at WCEPS, leads initiatives to empower educators and foster collaboration with Local Education Agencies (LEAs). With over 29 years of experience, she oversees a team of 35 coaches supporting schools nationwide in implementing... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
Regency E-G (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers
Academic Range K-12

8:00am PDT

From Scores to Success: Using the WIDA Language Charts for Classroom Assessment

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Join us for an introduction to the new WIDA Grade-Level Cluster Interpretive and Expressive Language Charts. Learn to integrate digital tools to understand language proficiency, plan instruction, monitor progress, and collaborate with colleagues. Enhance your assessment practices for multilingual learners.

Speakers

Virginia Morales

Assistant Director - Multilingual Education, Washington Office Of Superintendent Of Public Instruction

Cheyen Herseth

Elementary Multilingual Learning TOSA, Issaquah School District

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers
Academic Range K-12

8:00am PDT

Improve Accurate Identification of Multilingual Learners with Disabilities

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Let's come together to ensure we meet the Civil Rights requirements for serving our Multilingual students, starting with pre-referrals for Special Education evaluations to collaborating with Special Education case managers to align language and IEP goals. Join us as we share lessons learned from our district to address disproportionality rates by considering the differences between language and literacy acquisition from disability. Example resources will be shared for you to try out with your team.

Speakers

Lily Martin

Professional Development Coach, Bellevue School District

Amber Snapke

TEACHER COACH- MULTI LANGUAGE LEARNERS, Bellevue School District

Jill Suresh

TEACHER COACH- MULTI LANGUAGE LEARNERS, Bellevue School District

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Administrators
Academic Range K-12

8:00am PDT

Planificación de Objectos Lingüísticos con el Marco DALE WIDA

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

En esta sesión, vamos a focalizarnos en la planificación de objetivos lingüísticos específicos usando el Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE) que le permiten a los estudiantes expandir su repertorio lingüístico y cultural y desarrollar un desarrollo metalingüístico de las diferencias y similitudes lingüísticas entre el español y el inglés.

Speakers

Dr. Patricia Venegas-Weber

Dual Language Program Supervisor, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

Dr. Patricia Venega-Weber is a former ESL, Bilingual and Reading Specialist teacher with over 20 years of experience. She has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in Bilingual Education. She has also worked as an English/Spanish... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Dual Language Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

8:00am PDT

Welcoming Newcomers: Thriving in K-12 Schools

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Starting at a new school can be exciting and challenging, especially for newcomers adjusting to a new environment by fostering a sense of safety, belonging, and empowerment. This session is designed to support K-12 students as they navigate their academic and social journey, building meaningful connections and celebrating newcomers' unique identities. We’ll cover essential topics like understanding school expectations, accessing resources, building friendships, parent involvement, and embracing cultural diversity. This session will provide educators with instructional routines and resources to help newcomers feel safe, valued, connected to their school community.

Speakers

Maria Ceja

Director of Multilingual Education, Sunnyside School District

Maria Ceja serves as the Director of the Multilingual Department in the Sunnyside School District. With over 24 years of experience in education, she has dedicated her career to supporting multilingual learners in a variety of instructional settings. Maria taught for 20 years and... Read More →

MEGAN ANDERSON REILLY

TOSA, YAKIMA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Megan Anderson Reilly is a multilingual specialist and a mentor for early career educators for Yakima School District. Megan has extensive teaching experience working with multilingual learners in a variety of instructional contexts. She is an advocate for equitable practices, programs... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Para Educators
Academic Range K-12

8:00am PDT

Sponsored Session - Unlocking the power of Biliteracy Trajectories with Renaissance Learning

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

In this session we will be discussing how Renaissance uses an asset-based approach to student learning and provide educators with accurate data and resources to accelerate student learning for all.
Through our work in Biliteracy Trajectories educators can

Assess students’ literacy development in both Spanish and English
Inform instructional decisions in each language
Support bilingual students’ success
Empower students by providing an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in both languages

Speakers

Dr. Carol Johnson

International Education Officer, Renaissance Learning

Carol Johnson is a bilingual educator and International Education Officer at Renaissance. She holds a PhD in Second Language Acquisition & Teaching, specializing in Applied Psycholinguistics—how people learn second languages.Her years spent teaching English as a second language... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

11:15am PDT

Moving students’ linguistic power forward one sentence at a time: Language objectives and sentence deconstruction

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Evergreen E (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

How do your M/ELs tackle difficult sentences while reading and writing? How do they move their language forward at the sentence level? Pair a sentence deconstruction strategy with language objectives and PLDs to boost reading and writing proficiency. Leave with resources to easily implement this strategy across content areas.

Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Cowgill

Director of Multilingual Learning, ESD 123

Janae’ Bell

Multilingual Specialist, Finley Elementary School

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Evergreen E (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience ML Specialists, Teachers
Academic Range K-12

11:15am PDT

Rolling out the WIDA Standards Framework with Coaching and Collaboration

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Learn how to develop a successful implementation plan for rolling out the WIDA Standards! We’ll share how Quincy developed systems for coaching and co-planning to integrate language and content with the WIDA standards. This session will include strategic steps, real examples of collaborative planning, and ideas to use in your district.

Speakers

Danielle Fortner

QIA ML SPECIALIST, Quincy School District

Danielle Fortner: Danielle Fortner has taught for 10 years in the Quincy School District with experience in elementary education and language development. Currently, Danielle is a member of Eastside ML Teacher Leader Cohort to support implementing the WIDA Standards Framework.

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

11:15am PDT

Supporting Mathematical Sensemaking in Word Problems

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Evergreen A (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

If you have seven pencils and I have 14 apples, how many chickens will fit on the roof? Mathematical word problems can feel nonsensical, especially for multilingual learners! Learners thrive when given appropriate language scaffolding rather than decontextualized or over-simplified problems. This workshop supports educators in identifying and implementing language supports to promote mathematical literacy and sensemaking.

Speakers

Dr. Beth Dillard

Associate Professor and Director Multilingual Education Community Programs, Western Washington University

Beth Dillard is Associate Professor and Director Multilingual Education Community Programs - Renton in the Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University. In addition to teaching courses in the Multilingual Education Program, she coordinates two Grow Your Own (GYO... Read More →

Saraswati Noel

Assistant Professor, Western Washington University

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Evergreen A (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers
Academic Range K-12